Mercedes-Benz Pakistan Fashion Week (PFWDOHA)

Doha, May 02, 2015: The most anticipated Mercedes-Benz Pakistan Fashion Week (PFWDOHA) began with glitz and glamour here at the Doha Marriott Hotel, Qatar. Showcasing the latest bridal, prêt & formal trends, the two-day event was all set to showcase never-seen-before trends. The mega fashion event was organized by Rahat Mansoor, Founder & CEO PFW DOHA in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. PFWDOHA endeavours to promote Pakistan’s seasoned and aspiring fashion talent both on the domestic and international platform.

The two-day fashion extravaganza, Mercedes Benz-Pakistan Fashion Week Doha (PFWD) gathered a large multicultural audience for an array of designer clothes by some of the most prominent brands from Pakistan’s thriving fashion industry.

Featuring some of the leading labels such as Deepak Perwani, Zainab Chotani, HSY, Ali Zeeshan and Emran Rajput, the two-day fashion event concluded in Doha on Friday, showcasing collections of more than a 20 designers from Pakistan

Hosted by renowned Pakistani TV host, Ayesha Sana, the bigger and better second season of the PFWD brought before the Doha audience celebrities from Pakistan’s showbiz industry. Imran Abbas, the young TV and film actor, alongside top models from the industry walked the ramp for the grand finale of the show.

“This year’s show pulled even bigger an audience and people came in good numbers on both days. The house remained packed and this is bigger an audience then we were expecting,” Rahat Mansoor, the CEO of PWFD, said at the conclusion of the show.

“And the audience is a mix of members of different expatriate communities besides the local Qatari nationals. This shows that Pakistani designer’s clothes and brands are getting popular here as well,” suggested Rahat.

Pakistan’s top designer Deepak Perwani opened the show on the first day while designer Ali Zeeshan’s collection closed the day one. On Day two Zainab Chottani open the show while top designer Hassan Sheharyar Yasin, popularly known as HSY, concluded the show with a grand finale on the last day.

Some of the prominent & upcoming designers participating in the show from Pakistan were Ishtiaq Afzal, Maria Rao, Ghazo Collections, Samina Shahjani, High Street by Saima Asim, Madiha Gohar, Noman & Bhiya, Tasneem Sadaf, Fashion Factory by Amna Farhan, Iqra by Iqra Saqib, Riwaj by Pink, PH Design, and D&F by Deepak & Fahad. The event was Choreographed by Imran Kureishi from Pakistan

The show was an improvement upon and a bigger event that it’s last year’s inaugural season. Particular focus was given to the hosting of the event and PFWD this year invited Ayesha Sana who did a “wonderful job”. Besides, the organization was professionally handled, Rahat Mansoor added

“We had arranged for confirmation of participation from our guests who were invited and accordingly the seating arrangement was made so that nobody faces any inconvenience. And this is a very important aspect of organization as nobody would want to go through any trouble on their weekend, especially when they are coming to see such a grand show,” said Rahat.

The quality and variety in the selection of designers remained a key factor that added freshness to the event and managed to pull big crowds on both days of the show. Rahat said the young designers were carefully selected after a lengthy process.

However, the upcoming designers were selected after their profiles and products were vetted during a rigorous selection process. Rahat said Pakistani fashion designs are fast gaining popularity locally.

“Wearing designer clothes is very popular in Pakistan and I think it is equally so here in Doha. It is an international market and local authorities are doing a very good job in promoting and encouraging the local fashion scene,” said the PFWD CEO.

“Pakistani designers and their products are admired all over the world and they are very popular,” she added.

Rahat said that the biggest difference between last year and this was the branding. “Now, it is branded as a Mercedes Benz show and I think there are only three Mercedes-Benz brandings in the world such as Milano, US and Paris; and now the fourth is PFWD,” she said.

She thanked the title sponsors of the event, Mercedes-Benz whose executives were happy with the turnout & execution. The event was attended by a number of diplomats, top Qatari businessmen and women and VIPs from different communities.

The event was powered by ChenOne, official travel partner Mytrip, The make-up and grooming was done by Glam & Glitz, Hum Network as our official Media Partner, while City Exchange Trinity among other sponsors & partners, Our official PR of the event was handled by the PR department of HUM Network Ltd..

Held twice a year, PFW Doha has now become the most eagerly awaited event of the fashion industry in Qatar, and has continued to exceed expectations with each passing show. With the objectives to promote Pakistani fashion line to the rich international, Qatari community residing in one of the richest county in the world; and vice versa for the Designers to enjoy the exposure of Qatar’s untapped market” said Mrs. Rahat Mansoor, CEO and the Chief organizer of Pakistan Fashion Week Doha.